Improvement in spirit-stills



J. c. THOMPSON.

Improvement in Spirit-Stills.

' N0. 130,336. Patented Aug 6,1872.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN C. THOMPSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPIRIT-STILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,336, dated August6, 1872.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN G. THOMPSON, ofBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Stills, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for distilling alcoholic liquids bya process of redistillation, whereby the vapor rising from onedistillation is condensed and afterward returned for distillation overagain, to separate the more highly volatile particles from those whichare less so. The improvements consist, first, in a novel construction ofthe still, with 'one or more spirit-chambers having curved bottoms tofacilitate drawing ofi from said chambers. The improvements alsocomprise a novel arrangement of a scroll or fence, edge uppermost,within each or certain of the spiritchambers, said scroll commencing ata point near the center of the chamber, and traversin g in an equal orunequal manner the bottom of the spirit-chamber, for the purpose ofcansing a circulation of the spirits to be distilled. The improvementslikewise include the application of a drop-pipe to the spirit-chambers,arranged to convey the impurities from an upper chamber to the center ofthe chamber beneath it, said pipe being so constructed as to prevent thevapors from the lower chamber passing up it to the chamber above. Anovel feature also consists in a combination, with each or any of thespirit-chambers, of a thermometer, arranged and constructed to connectwith the center of the chamber, for the purpose of indicating thetemperature of the latter at its center, where the heat is the greatest,to dictate the necessary regulation of heat required. The improvementsfurthermore comprise a system of separate condensers for the separatespirit chambers; likewise a novel and advantageous construction of thecondensers, the same preferably being made of an inner andouter'sheet-metal case, the inner one of which is composed of pocketsfitted with reversely-arranged return strips or blocks f i lation of thevapors to be condensed in a serpentine manner through the pockets, whilethe cooling liquid enters between the pockets and spaces, separatingthem from the outer case, thus obtaining a very efficientcondensing-surface.

Having thus specified the object and nature of the invention, itsdescription will be pro ceeded with in reference to the accompanyingdrawing. I

Figure 1 represents a mainly sectional vertical view ofa still with theimprovements applied to it; Fig. 2, a horizontal section through one ofthe condensers at the line a: m; and Fig. 3, a sectional v.plan of oneof the spirit-chambers.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures.

The still illustrated in the drawing only shows three spirit-chambers,arranged one above the other, and a corresponding number and arrangementof condensers, but any greater number of both may be used. The lowercondenser of the series may be cooled by the beer or wash in its way tothe spirit chamber or boiler, while the other condensers may either becooled by the beer or by water. A, B, and 0 represent three condensers,arrangedas described. These condensers are each made up of an outersheetmetal case and inner shell or case, the latter being formed ofsheet-metal pockets b b, disposed vertically in parallel courses at asuitable distance apart, and communicating, top and bottom, at the sameside or end, by cross-chambers c d, with the pipes by which the vapor ispassed to, andreturned, when condensed, from the con denser. Thesepockets are fitted with a series of reversely-disposed metal strips orblocks, 0 e, secured by rivets passing through them and the pockets, andof an elongated-U description, entering one within the other so as toform return-strips to establish a serpentine course or channel, f, forthe vapor or liquid, while the spaces 9 between the pockets 1) b and thespaces separating them from the outer case contain the cooling liquid.This forms an easily made and very efficient condenser. The beer or mashto be distilled enters the lower condenser A by the pipe h, and,circulating as k, to the condenser A, .from whence the condensed productor spirits passes, by a pipe,

I, to a spirit-chamber, F, arranged above the boiler D, and constructedwith a curved bottom, which may either be convex or concave on its uppersurface, accordingly as the pipe Z is arranged to deliver at the centeror periphery of the chamber. I The object of thus curvspirit-chamber Fis also fitted with an open scroll or fence, M, having its edgeuppermost, said scroll commencing at a point near the center of thechamber and traversing in a regular or irregular manner the bottom ofsaid chamber, whereby an extended circulation of the spirits over thebottom of the chamber and about the steam-coil is produced, thusexpediting evaporation. The pipe 1 is immersed at its delivery-end in atube or receiver, m, containing spirits or water, and arranged to form aliquid trap on the bottom of the chamber F to prevent back pressure orescape of the vapors generated within said chamber. The condensedproducts of the chamber F are returned, by a siphonic drop-pipe, G, to asimilar fluid-trap in the lower boiler D for redistillation, while thevolatile matter in said chamber F passes, by a pipe, It, to the secondcondenser B, from whence the product of condensation and vapor passes,by a pipe, I, to the next upper spirit-chamber H, that is of likeconstruction with the chamber F, and is similarly provided with a scrollor 'fence, steam-coil, siphonic drop-pipe G for returningimpuritiesorunevaporated matter back to the center of-the spiritchamber below it,and an escape-pipe for the vapor to the next condenser 0, from whencethe process may be continued as before, or where it may terminate. Thesiphonic droppipes connecting each spirit-chamber with the one below itprevent any passage of vapor from the one chamber to the other; andeach;

vchamber is. a separate still, heated by a separate heater, and providedwith a separate condenser, but operating successively upon higherdistillations, and returning unevaporated matter for redistillation,whereby a high-proof spirit may be obtained in a most economical andperfect manner. To regulate the temperature of the severalspirit-chambers each one is provided with an outside thermometer, I, thetube 8 of which is arranged to project into the central portion of thechamber, where the heat is greatest, especially'when the spirit to bedistilled has its travel over the bottom of the chamber extended, as ishere the case, by the scroll or fence.

What is here claimed, and desired to be sccured by Letters Patent, is--V 1. In a still having one or more spirit-chamhere, the curved or convexbottoms, in combination with the open scroll or fence M, substantiallyas specified, for the purpose set forth.

2. The connection of an upper with a lower spirit-chamber by asiphon-shaped drop-pipe, G, arranged to convey the impurities from theupper spirit-chamber to the center of the one beneath it, essentially asspecified.

3. The arrangement in the spirit-chamber of the thermometer I, havingits tube 8 extending into the central portion of said chamber,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a still composed of a series of spiritchambers for successiveoperations, as described, the application of a separate con-- denser toeach chamber, essentially as specified.

5. A condenser composed of an outer case or shell, A, and inner case,consisting of a series of pockets, 1) b, and reversely-arrangedreturn-strips e e, having cross-connecting tubes or passages c d andinlets and outlets It I, all arranged for operation substantially asshown and described. v

JOHN C. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

FRED. HAYNES, lt. IE. RABEAU.

